I also like to take advantage of Guitar Centers discounts. I spent quite a bit of money on microphones last weekend during their memorial day sales. It was 15% off then. Some microphones are expensive, but I always buy from major manufacturers and have a clear conscious that when I need them, they're going to work and work well.

In my opinion, you can go as little as three microphones or as many as 9 with your compliment of drums and cymbals. This will also depend on your final product and the degree of professionalism you want from that product. This is just the head of the nail, lol.

Like Bo said You will need to buy stands or clips to hold the mics, mic cables, a mixer, speakers. And on a $300 budget that's going to be pretty hard to do. Triggers will be just as expensive if not more. You'll need the triggers, a processing module/electronic brain of some type like a roland or yamaha to hook the triggers into to create the sound sample, then cables and some sort of pa to run it through.

Even getting three affordable,yet high quality mics, like the Shure Sm57 which is a workhorse mic will run you $300 just for the mics.

Not a lot of info to go on. What sticks are you using? Maybe you just need some heavyweight 2B's or larger and a heavy handed playing style.
You might end up breaking cymbals and heads going that route though. LOL

For 300 dollars your not going to get much like was said. I don't think your going to be able to afford a decent mixer even used. I would forget getting fancy with the drum micing and just buy 2 brand new shure sm57s and the 2 cheapest stands that will get them above your drumset. Just put the sm57s in front of your set and point them in a x patern one pointed across the snare and high hat but not right at it above it parralel to the ground and do the same with the oppisite just pointing at your floor tom.

It will probably actually give you a really decent sound and when you get the money for more advanced set ups you will still have 2 really good mics you can use in conjunction with other mics you will buy.

If you do want to get a cheap mixer it just get the cheapest berringer they have that suits your needs. It will be ok for a live set up don't try useing mixers like that for recording though and expect decent results.

For 300 dollars your not going to get much like was said. I don't think your going to be able to afford a decent mixer even used. I would forget getting fancy with the drum micing and just buy 2 brand new shure sm57s and the 2 cheapest stands that will get them above your drumset. Just put the sm57s in front of your set and point them in a x patern one pointed across the snare and high hat but not right at it above it parralel to the ground and do the same with the oppisite just pointing at your floor tom.

It will probably actually give you a really decent sound and when you get the money for more advanced set ups you will still have 2 really good mics you can use in conjunction with other mics you will buy.

If you do want to get a cheap mixer it just get the cheapest berringer they have that suits your needs. It will be ok for a live set up don't try useing mixers like that for recording though and expect decent results.

I totally agree with this: two Sure SM57's and a small Behringer mixer. Peace and goodwill.

The CAD's are very very cheap, and actually give a pretty decent sound as long as you EQ the audio right. I use them myself and am very happy with them, although I am thinking about replacing my kick mic with a Shure BETA 52A.

I also found a pair of AKG 170's for $179...both mics got rave reviews from my researches, but went with the MXL's because the retailer is a mile from me, and they offered free shipping. Since I could drive and pick them up, saving them UPS charges, I got them a bit less.

Anyway, picked up 2 boom mic stands from Musicians Friend for $30.00, two Monster cables from local Guitar Center for $50. I have a Yamaha MX102 mixer for $69.00

This is for my basement studio use. They work fine. I have the ability to add up to 2 more mics if desire (snare/bass) and perhaps sometime I will.